Piston-aligning tool



Dec. 3o, 1924. 1,521,1n9

M. F, MURPHY PISTON ALIGNING TOOL AFiled March 25, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 30, l 924.

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M. F. MURPHY PI STON ALIGNI NG TOOL Filed MaIGl' 25, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Cyl Patented Dec. 30, 19249 NITED STATES Midi TENT

'.PISTON-.ALIGNING TOOL.

Application led March 25,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MnLvIN F. MURPHY, a citizen of the United Sta-tes, residing at Chesterfield, in the county of Macoupin and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piston-Aligning Tools, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tools and the primary object of the invention is to provide a simple, light and inexpensive tool for aligning pistons with their respective cylinders, irrespective of whether the pistons are out of alignment due to a bent crank shaft, bent connecting rod, or worn connecting rod bearings.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a portable piston aligning` tool, which is adapted to detachably engage directly with the cylinder of an engine, with which the piston is to be aligned, the tool effectively indicating whether or not the piston is in direct alignment with its cylinder.

A. further object of the invention is the provision of a novel piston aligning tool, which can be readily and quickly connected with a piston, and which embodies novel means for connection with the cylinder, and a novel aligning bar carried by said means, the aligning bar being mounted for swinging movement so that the same can be moved pastthe piston being aligned.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel means for connecting the aligning bar with the cylinder engaging means, so that the said aligning bar will always be held in proper aligned relation with the cylinder, and so that the aligning' bar will be held against lateral shifting movement in relation to the cylinder connecting means.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a novel piston aligning tool of durable construction, one which can be manufactured and placed upon the market at a small cost, and one which can be attached to a cylinder by an ordinary layman.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying 1922. Serial No. 546,912.

drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved piston aligning tool, showing the same in operative relation to an engine, the engine being shown in longitudinal section.

Figure 2 is an edge elevation of an improved piston aligning tool, showing the same in operative relation to an engine, the engine being shown in transverse section.

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the improved piston aligning tool.

Flgure t is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the improved tool, illustrating the means utilized for connecting the aligning bar with the cylinder engaging means, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 7.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section through the improved tool, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 7.-

Fignre 6 is a vertical transverse section through the improved tool, taken on the line 6--6` of Figure 7.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the improved tool.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary edge elevation of the same. v

Figure 9 is a detail horizontal section through the tool, taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 3, illustrating the means forl detachably receiving the aligning bar to permit the aligning bar to be connected with the piston engaging means.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of the head utilized for connecting the aligning bar to the piston.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates the improved tool; and B. an engine with which it can be used.

The engine B is, of course.l of the ordinary or any preferred character, and forms no part of the present invention, but simply has been shown for the purpose of illustrating the use of the improved tool.

As shown, the engine B includes cylinders 5, cast in blocks of two, and each of the cylinders forming a block being divided by common piston wall 6. The cylinder blocks are mounted in the usual manner upon the crank case 7, which supports depending bearings 8 for the reception of the crank shaft 9. The crank shaft 9 has detachably connected thereto by means of bearings 10 the connecting rods 11 and the pistons 12, which are reciprocably mounted 1n the cylinders 5 in the ordinary manner. It is el: course, apparent that when the tool A is to be used, to see if the pistons are in correct allignmejnt with their cylinders, that the lower part or oil pan oi" the crank case 7 is removed, and the connecting rod of the piston which is to be aligned remet/'ed Yfrom its crank shaft, so that the piston 12 canl be pulled out from the cylinder, ailter which the connecting rod is again connected to the cra-nk shal't and the piston permitted to hang l'rom the crank shaft as clearly show n in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The tool A includes means C :tor engaging a cylinder for holding the tool A in position, the aligning' bar D and the means E -for connecting` the aligning bar D with the connecting means C The means C tor holding` the tool inposition comprises a cylindrical solid body 1.5 having its intermediate portion |cut ont or notched, as at 16. One wall of the notched portion 16 is curved, arcuately, as at 17', to conform to the interior configuration oil" a cylinder. One end of the body 15 is provided with an outwardly extending screw threaded stem 17, on which is threaded a head 18. The .head 18 is roughened or serrated on its outer face, so that the same can be conveniently grasped by the hand, .and one' end of the head 18 is pointed as at 19, so that the same will frictionally .engage the bore ot a cylinder. It is obvious that by adjusting the head 18, the same will be moved toward or away from the bore of .a cylinder d'iainetrically opposite the point engaged by the arcuate face 17. The opposite end of the body 15 from the screw threaded stem 17 is provided with an inwardly extending bore 20, in which is threaded a screw 21. This screw can also be provided with a Vpointed innerterminal 22 for biting engagement with the wall of a cylinder. The outer end of, the screw 21 can be provided with a head 24, which can be readily engaged by the hand ot' the operator to permit the free turi'iing movement thereof.

The aligning bar D is lormed 'from a fiat strip of metal, and includes the longitudinally extending relatively narrow rectangular body 25. This bar is connected with the cylindrical body 15 'for swinging movement by the means E which will now be described. It is obvious that the aligning bar D can be connected with the body 15 in various ways, and one of these ways has been shown by way 4oi" example in the drawings. As shown, the connecting means E includes a barrel 26 for rotatably receiving the body 16, and depending ears 27 and 28 l'or receiving the upper end of the rod D. The barrel 26 and the ears 27 and 28 can be made o-ut of one piece, it so desired, and in the drawings, this has been shown in this manner. In order to form the barrel 26 and the ears 27 and 28 a strip of metal is taken and rolled intermediate its ends to provide the barrel and the ears 27 and 28 are bent downwardly in spaced relation as clearly shown in Figures 5, 6, and 10 of the drawings. In order to hold the ears 27 and 28 inspaced relation to receive the aligning rod D, .the spacing blocks 29 can be provided. The :spacing blocks 29 are also .airranged in spaced relation, and these `blocks with the ears 27 and 28 deline a way 30, which is adapted to snugly receive the upper end oit the aligning rod D. This .aligning rod D is held by a screw 3l, which adapted to extend through the ears 27 and 28 and through the rod D.

iEnorde-r to prevent lateral .shitting mov-ement loft the barrel 26 upon the .body 15, t-he body may have threaded' into .the same at each end thereof screws` 85, the heads which are adapted to overlie the terminals oit the barrel 26.. This is clearly shown in Figures 3., l, and 8 of the dra-wings.

ln use of the improved tool, the piston to be .aligned with the .cylinder is swung down ont of its cylinder `as heretobetore described, and shown in Figures 1 and 2 ot the dranf'i-ngs... The screw 21 is then actuated, so as to move the same outward and away from the curved wall 17. The tool is then placed. in the engine so that the .dividing wall 6 between :a pair of cylinders .can extend into the notched or cut out portion 16., arf-ter which the screw 21 is again turn-ed to feed the pointed 4end into tight Contact with the cylinder. After the screw 21 has been adjusted,-` the head 15; is rotated, so astomove the pointedend 19 into engagement with `an opposite wall ot' the cylinder from the wall enga-ged. by the curved. face 17. This means effectively holds the body 15 against movement and the inner edge oi'the .aligning rod D will be in direct alignment with the face 1.7 and the wall ot the cylinder with which the piston is to be alig`{ned. The rod D can now be swung back and tort-h acrss the outer face of' theV piston whichl is' to he aligned, and any varia-tion in the contour .et the piston will be at once noted irrespective of whether the piston is out .of alignment due to a worn bearing, or due to a: bent connecting rod or crank shaft(V If the tool shows that the piston is out of .alignn'ient,V the next step would. then be taken to vbring the same into direct alignment with the cylinder, by any suitable means.

From the foregoing. description, it can be seen that a. novel and simple portable tool has been provided, which will eectively and simply permit a person to determine whether or not a piston is in alignment with its cylinder.

Changes in details may be made 4without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention; but,

I claim:

l. A piston aligning tool comprising an abutment having a contour conforming to the inner wall of the cylinder, means for detachably holding said abutment into engagement with the said inner wall,i and an aligning rod carried by said means having one of its longitudinal. edges disposed in alignment with the face of the abutment.

2. In a tool for aligning pistons with a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, said tool comprising a clamping member including a body having a notched portion arran 'ed to receive one wall of the cylinder of t ie engine, and mea-ns for clamping the body in pos-ition in the cylinder with one face of the notch engaging 4the inner Wall of the cylinder, and a depending rockable aligning rod carried by the body for engaging the outer circumference of the piston longitudinally thereof when withdrawn from the cylinder.

3. A. tool for aligning the piston with the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, said tool comprising a clamping meinber adapted for detachable engagement with the wall of the cylinder, an aligning rod carried by the clamping member and normally held in direct alignment with the wall of the cylinder of the engine with which the clamp is associated, the rod being adapted to engage the outer circumference of the piston longitudinally thereof when withdrawn from the cylinder.

4L. A tool for aligning a piston with the cylinders of an internal combustion engine, .said tool comprising a head having a notch formed therein, for receiving the wall of the cylinder, one wall of the notch portion being curved, to conform to the configuration of the cylinder with which the piston is to be aligned, a set screw carried by the body for engaging the cylinder for bringing the arcuate face into intimate engagement with the inner face of the cylinder, a threaded shank carried by the body, a head threaded upon the stem adjacent the wall of the cylinder at a point diametrically opposite the point engaged by the opposite face of the notch portion of the body, a connecting' member rockably mounted upon the body, and an aligning rod detachably secured to the connecting member to engage the outer circumference of the piston longitudinally thereof when withdrawn from the cylinder.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a tool comprising a body having a recess portion to receive the connecting walls intermediate a pair of cylinders, means carried by the body for engaging the inner wall of one of the cylinders at opposite points, and a piston aligning member loosely connected to the body and disposed at right angles thereto for engaging the outer circumference of the piston longitudinally thereof when withdrawn from the cylinder.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a tool comprising a body having a recessed portion to receive the connecting Wall intermediate a pair of cylinders, one wall of the recess having a curved face to conform to the contour of the inner wall of one of the cylinders, means for engaging said curved face with the wall of the cylinder, and a piston engaging bar having one of itse edges disposed in alignment with Ithe curved face for engaging the outer circumference of the cylinder longitudinally thereof when withdrawn from the cylinder.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a portable piston aligning tool comprising a body having a recess port-ion therein arranged to receive the connecting wall intermediate the pair of cylinders, a thumb screw carriedby one end of the body for extending into the notch portion, and outwardly extending screw threaded shanks carried by the other end of the body, a head fitted upon the shank, and a pist-on engaging bar loosely connected with the body and having one of its longitudinal edges normally disposed in alignment with one of the walls of the rccess portion for engaging the outer circumference of the cylinder longitudinally thereof when withdrawn from the cylinder.

8. As a new article o f manufacture, a portable piston aligning tool comprising a solid body having a notched portion therein arranged to receive the connecting wall intermediate a` pair of cylinders, a thumb screw carried by one of the bodies for eX- tending into the notch portion, an outwardly extending screw threaded stem carried by the other end of the body, a head fitted upon the stem, a connecting member including a barrel rockably mounted upon the body, de.- pending ears formed on the barrel, and relatively thin piston engaging bar detachably connected with said depending ears.

MELVIN F. MUR-PHY. 

